Why the Prequels saved Obi-Wan Kenobi

I apologize for the delay, but life got in the way and I couldn't get this out right away on time.

I am going to get this off of my chest right away after Return of the Jedi, I hated Obi-Wan Kenobi.

My 8yr old head could not wrap my head around the fact that a Jedi, Obi-Wan could lie to Luke. In The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader drops the most quoted line in all of pop culture...I am your Father.  This cliffhanger is so critical in the Star Wars Mythos. It really hard to put into words how much ripple effect this has not only from audience perspective but movie making in general.

From Luke's perspective and you as the audience member know very little about Anakin Skywalker and the lineage.  Obi-Wan gives a crash course to Luke: that he was a freighter pilot, fought in the Clone Wars together and he was a good friend.  Obi-Wan pauses just for second there in his recollection.  There is sadness all in that little pause and it is absolutely powerful.  Obi-Wan states that Darth Vader murder his father. So Luke set on his path on becoming a Jedi and taking on this Evil Sith Lord.  Luke gets another crash course on the light and dark side of the Force in Dagobah from Master Yoda.  Luke's understanding of the Force in a very navie.  Basically, me good Vader bad

...but there is a twist, the Cave.  Luke goes into this temple in Dagobah and sees Darth Vader in all his menacing glory.  Luke does a quick lightsaber battle and goes for the Death blow and lops off Vader's head, it blows up and it reveals the face of ....Luke Skywalker. It is great foreshadowing that Evil is present in Skywalker family and if Luke is not careful he will become what he wants to destroy.

In ROTJ,  Luke reconnects with Obi-Wan (Jedi Spirit Mode) after Yoda passes away.  Obi-Wan says "Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. What happened to your father was my fault... from a certain point of view. Anakin was a good friend. When I first met him, your father was already a great pilot. But I was amazed how strongly the Force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. I thought that I could instruct him just as well as Yoda. I was wrong. During the Clone Wars, it wasn't long before the Emperor sensed Anakin's powers and lured him to the Dark Side."

It is right there it just devastated me that what Vader said was true and that Luke has to kill his father.  It is hard to understand that Vader took down the Jedi and now the only living Jedi has to take down the main bad guy and it is his father you know, no big deal.  So after this exchange between to Luke and Obi-Wan doesn't really provide any closure and it is a little raw and so ever since that point I am like no Obi-Wan for me.

When the Prequels were announced and I am finding out there is going to be a younger Obi-Wan involved.  I was like I don't know how this is going to pan out. Then you hear Ewan McGregor was cast for the role and I get a little bit more excited.

What Ewan does to the role from acting perspective is fantastic, he mimics Sir Alec Guinness role to a "T" and Ewan develops the same mannerisms that was already present in the Original Trilogy.  Besides, Qui-Gon Jinn who had a very limited run, Obi-Wan is definitely my 2nd favorite character in the Prequels.

Star Wars is never known for its writing, but George Lucas does a very good job on portraying Obi-Wan's maturity over the 3 films.  You have a brash but wise Jedi when you meet him in Phantom Menace.  It is Qui-Gon's death that accelerates a lot of things for Obi-Wan. He was just a padawan and then Qui-Gon's dying wish is to train, Anakin Skywalker.  Yoda sees something there and allows it to happen.

In Attack of the Clones, you see a bearded Obi-Wan and looking more Jedi then ever.  You can see the same Brash Jedi in Anakin and Obi-Wan tries to hold him at bay.  There is not much he can do, because Anakin is very powerful, but he wants to be mature but he is not.  Obi-Wan shows wit and charm at the right times and his sarcasm is top notch.  After Anakin loses his lightsaber in the chase of Padme's assassin Obi-Wan says "Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?"
Anakin smiles and responds "Don't say that, master. You're the closest thing I have to a father."

In Revenge of the Sith, that opening sequence space battle over Corcuscant is one of my favorites. It really shows that Anakin are brothers in the Force and are completely in sync with one another as they fly over the battlefield.  Again, Obi-Wan's wit shows through after they rescue and crash land General Greivous ship after "Another happy landing."

One of my favorite scenes in ROTS is when everything is on a downward spiral and Obi-Wan is reaching out to Padme to find Anakin. Kenobi: He was decieved by a lie... we all were. It appears that the Chancellor is behind everything, including the war! After the death of Count Dooku, Anakin became his new apprentice.
Padmé: I don't believe you. I can't...
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Padmé, I must find him.
Padmé: You're going to kill him, aren't you?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: He has become a very great threat.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Anakin is the father, isn't he?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: I'm so sorry.

Obi-Wan shows how much love and care he has for the both of them and it doesn't take a Jedi Master to understand there is something more going on between Anakin and the Senator from Naboo.

Like the opening sequence, the end you get this huge lightsaber fight with Anakin and Obi-Wan.  You can tell they are equals and that they did this 1000 times as Master and Apprentice but now it is much more at stake, Jedi vs Sith. At the end, Kenobi: You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. You were to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness.
Anakin Skywalker:  I hate you.
Obi-Wan: You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.

Obi-Wan shows his hand. Even though Jedi are not supposed to have attachment...he knows Anakin has it with Padme and he is showing that he also has this attachment with Anakin and it is a little bit more then just Master and Apprentice. 

And this is the point, this is where the Prequels saved Obi-Wan for me.  I can not imagine the pain and torment that Obi-Wan had to go through as he replayed that fight and all the things he could have done when Anakin was under his direction as a pupil.  It would have drove many people mad.  You still see this tenderness in him as he interacts with Luke, but you also get this sense of him holding back.  As I rewatch, the Original Trilogy I like Obi-Wan a lot more and the sting of his words don't hurt as much as they did in the past.

It is cliche, but it is so true never judge a person until you walk in their shoes. Sometimes you need a little more perspective before you pass judgment on someone.  I am sorry Obi-Wan that I doubted a truly wise and powerful Jedi Master. 

Next week, I will tackle is the Force good and evil?

The Force Awakens

To say I am excited about The Force Awakens (TFA) is an understatement. Now it is not '83 to '99 but it is '05 to '15. After Revenge of the Sith (ROTS) came out, the Prequels were done and as a Star Wars fan that movie drug was gone and there were rumors of a live action TV show and maybe a cartoons or summing but that was it. 

It all looked bleak, but in August 2008, we got a Clone Wars movie.  It was basically a couple episodes put to together to form a movie and soon thereafter the Clone Wars (Oct 08) was an amazing, wonderful ride between Attack of the Clones (AOTC) and ROTS. Ok, Clone Wars gets cancelled and the last episode leaves you like The Empire Strikes Back  (TESB) and there is so many questions.  Again it just shows the division in the Jedi Order and how Anakin and Ashoka's relationship perfectly and eloquently reflects this division. It came to faithful end in March 2013 it ended ...Lost Missions in Feb 2014...yes sir.  Tells more about Order 66 and how a Clone almost found out the truth.

But back up jusy a smidge, on Oct 30th, 2012 Disney buys Lucas Films for like 4 billion and that day they announce new movies and the Star Wars Universe just explodes. What more movies? Taking a page out of the Marvel book and having a Trilogy and stand alone films.  Fan Boys weep for joy.

In January 2013, J. J. Abrams was announced as the director of Star Wars Episode VII and I think this is where I lost my mind.  I really like what he just did with Star Trek and Super 8 is in Top 10 films of all time.  Trouble in paradise? Script writter Arndt left from the project on October 24, 2013, and Lawarence Kasdan and Abrams take over script duties. Change in vision?? 

On April 29, 2014, - this photo literally broke the internet.

Pretty much the same crew that brought you the Clone Wars is bringing you Star Wars Rebels which launched in September 2014.

On November 6, 2014, the title of the film was announced as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  This title couldn't be more perfect.  Encaspulates, the essence of Star Wars fandom...it was dormant now it is 

So second-unit filming began in April with principal photography taking place May through November and the date will be December 18th, 2015 in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D.

There is a lot more I can write about the trailers and everything else, but Let's get to the movie.

***Spoilers*** Instead of coming up with this elaborate story and how I think it plays out.  This is again mostly what I think is going to happen and combining on what "internet" says....before I get there, my number one fan boy request is have Boba Fett in the movie.  I know they are making an anthology film on Han Solo so I really hope he is in that but I desperately want to see him in December.

Okay last chance...***spoilers***

Poe Dameron - Oscar Isaac said he is a hot shot pilot.  He is our Wedge for this new series with a touch of Han Solo swagger thrown in there.  I could definitely see a love interest to Rey.  Also, helps out Finn early on to escape 1st Order.

Rey - There is a reason that we don't know her last name.  I believe she is the daughter of Han and Leia and she is also Force Sensitive and be the one to hand the lightsaber to Luke.

Finn - Although we see now Finn holding a lightsaber, this is not a Han Solo thing.  I truly believe he is part of the Awakening and learns that he is not the 1st Order type and he helps Poe to escape.
Han Solo - I believe this is a Han Solo movie and that he is main dude of the movie.  I also think he doesn't make it out of this movie and show him die on screen. Harrison Ford wanted to kill him off in ROTJ so I think he gets his wish this time.
Luke Skywalker - I don't think you see Luke to the end of the film.  I think he is at a demi-God state and he is ridiculously powerful.  He understands what is at stake and pulled a Master Yoda not otherwise intervene and went somewhat in hiding.
Princess Leia - I think she is the leader of the Resistance and her and Han are estranged. I don't want that but could explain why Rey doesn't really know Han.
Captain Phasma - Maybe our Boba Fett of this film.  I see her as a very elite stormtrooper but is also very unorthodoxed methods to her.
Kylo Ren - This guy is not full Sith but understands he wants to be.  He is collector and I believe he is the one that is holding Darth Vader's mask in the trailer.  I think he wants this Darth Vader's lightsaber and he believes is the key for the Sith. Also, son of Han and Leia. I believe he is the one that Kills his father, Han.
General Hux - This is a dice role for me.  I really think he is our Grand Moff Tarkin of the movie.
Supreme Leader Snoke - This is the major I have no idea.  I really wanted this to be Darth Bane as the spirit guiding Kylo.  My guess he is as bad as bad can get just like our Supreme Chancellor Palpatine =). 

So there you have it, my predictions for Force Awakens....we will find out soon enough. Now bring on the toys...Force Friday Eve is upon us.  Next week I am going to tackle, why the Prequels saved ObiWan Kenobi.